Archbishop Vincent Nichols also called on the Government to make public the results of the national consultation on its plans to introduce same-sex civil marriage in England and Wales.
Speaking at a press conference at the end of the biannual meeting of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales in Hinsley Hall, Leeds, he said the issue was too important to be used as a "political football".
He added: "As far as we can see, there is not a specific identified problem that the change is supposed to be addressing."
At their meeting, the bishops passed a resolution restating their opposition to plans to redefine marriage and urged all parties to make it a free vote for MPs.